Electric switch



NOV. 4, 1941. O A sHANN 2,261,419

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Aug. 26,'1959 TO TELEPHONE APPARATUS /6\ I 25 /5TO LINE [DI I /N|/NTOR 0.14. SHANN Patented Nov. 4 1941 UNETED STATESPATENT OFFICE I ELECTRIC SWITCH, 7 Oscar A. Sl1ann, ,Bayside, Y.,assignor to 3 ell Telephone. Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation or New York fApplication August 26, 1939, Serial No.292,022

-2 claims. (01. zoogleayj t This invention relates to electric switchesand more particularly to-ringer cut-out switches for telephonesubstation apparatus.

One object of this invention is to enable the expeditious establishmentof a controllable connection between an electrical conductor andapparatus associated therewith.

Another object of this invention is to facilitate the installation of aringer cut-out switch in telephone substation apparatus.

In one illustrative embodiment of this invention, a ringer cut-outswitch comprises a body member having therein a groove or channel foraccommodating a cord for a telephone set, a plate member mounted on thebody member and having a pair of terminals or contacts thereon, and amovable finger piece having an electrically conductive portion adaptedto bridge the terminals or contacts. One of the terminals or contactshas connected thereto a metallic pin adapt du'c'tors l'fl'and I5 whichare connected to terminals l6 in the mounting l0.

Each of the conductors I4 and {5 may be,

' stranded, as shown in Fig. 4, and individually en:

ed to pierce the insulation on the telephone cord and to engage one ofthe conductors of the cord. The other terminal or contact has connectedthereto a conductor which may be connected to a point in the substationcircuit such that when the two terminals or contacts are bridged a shortcircuit is placed across the ringer of the telephone set.

The invention and the features thereof Will be understood more clearlyand fully from the following detailed description with reference to theaccompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a telephone set and thecord therefor and showing a cut-out switch constructed in accordancewith this invention in place upon the cord;

Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of a cutout switch illustrative ofone embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a View, mainly in section, illustrating the association of theswitch and the cord;

Fig. 4 is a view in cross-section along line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating the operation of the switchshown in Figs. 2 and 3 as a ringer cut-out.

Referring now to the drawing, the telephone set shown in part in Fig. 1comprises a mounting III, which may be of the construction shown inPatent 2,096,046, granted October 19, 1937 to John J. Kuhn and George R.Lum, the mounting having therein telephone substation apparatusincluding a ringer II and a condenser I 2. The substation apparatus maybe connected to the telephone line by a cord l3 having a pair ofconcased in insulation tubing ILfor example or soft rubber, and theinsulated conductors may be en'- cased in turn by a fabric covering I8.

Mounted upon the cord [3 is a ringer cut-out switch, which, as shown inFig. 2, comprises a body member l9, an insulating plate 20 anda fingerpiece 2 I The body member, which may be formed of metal or insulatingmaterial, includes a grooved or channeled bottom portion 22 foraccommodating the cord l3, a pair of aligned grooved side portions 23 inwhich the insulating plate 20 is slidably fitted, and a pair of curvedfingers M for frictionally engaging the finger piece 2 I.

The insulating plate 26, which may be of any suitable insulatingmaterial, has thereon a pair of terminals or contacts 25 and 26, theterminal 25 having a pointed pin portion adapted to pierce the fabriccovering l8 and insulating sleeve I! and to firmly contact with theconductor I4, as shown in Fig. 3. The terminal or contact 26 hasextending therefrom a conductor 21, which may be an integral extensionthereof, connected within the mounting [0 to one terminal 28 of theringer ll. Preferably, the conductor 21 is of relatively heavy wire sothat, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, it may be inserted easily underthe fabric covering [8 of the cord l3.

The body portion of the finger piece 2| preferably is of insulatingmaterial and has embedded in or coated upon the base thereof anelectrically conductive plate or layer 29. The finger piece 2| is.slidably movable in the groove between the fingers 24 of the bodymember l9 so that the plate or layer 29 may be out of contact with thecon-,

tact or terminal 26, as shown in Fig. 3, or may be in intimateengagement with both of the contacts or terminals .25 and 26 whereby, aswill be apparent from Fig. 5, a short circuit is placed across theringer H and the ringer thereby is rendered inoperative.

It will be appreciated that the cut-out switch shit'able scope andspirit of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric switch for attachment to a con-i ductor, comprising abody member, including abase portion, open ended grooved side portionsand fingers extending from said side portions, a plate member overlyingsaid base portion and defining therewith a channel for accommodatingsaid conductor, said plate member being fitted in said grooved sideportions and slidably insertable therein from one end thereof, a pair ofspaced terminals mounted on said plate mem her, one of said terminalshaving a portion extending into said channel for engaging saidconductor, and a finger piece slidably mounted between said fingers andhaving a conductive surface for bridging said terminals.

2. An electric switch for attachment to an insulated conductor,comprising a unitary member including a base portion having therein anelongated channel, side portions each having therein an elongated grooveparallel to said channel and finger portions extending inwardly fromsaid side portions, an insulating plate overlying said channel andslidably fitted in said grooves, said plate defining with said channelan elongated, open ended tubular opening for accommodating saidinsulated conductor, a pair of terminals mounted on and projectingthrough said insulating plate, one of said terminals having a pinportion extending into said channel for piercing the insulation on saidconductor and engaging said conductor, a conductor extending fromtheother of said terminals, and a finger piece slidably fitted between saidfinger portions, said finger piece including an insulating body portionand a conductive member overlying said insulating plate and adapted tobridge said terminals.

OSCAR A. SHANN.

